International tertiary students get a taste for Australian wine

More than 200 international students will swap their textbooks for a wine glass as they get an education of a different kind today (Thursday, 21 August) at the 4th annual International Students Tasting of Australian Wine held at the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide.

Hosted by Wine Australia, Study Adelaide, the National Wine Education and Training Centre (NWETC), and supported by the National Wine Centre, the event aims to ignite a passion for Australian wine among students who make Australia their home while undertaking university education.

Students who have registered for the free event will have the opportunity to taste more than 30 wines from many of Australia’s most well-known regions including the Barossa, Hunter Valley, Margaret River and McLaren Vale.

Many of the students are expected to be from China, South Australia’s biggest international student market and the fourth largest destination for Australian wine exports - behind the UK, US and Canada.

Wine Australia’s Regional Director, Australia, Asia & Emerging Markets, Aaron Brasher, said the event gives international students a taste, often for the first time, of the quality and regional character of Australian wines.

'While the primary reason international students come to Australia may be a university education, they also want to explore the local culture and Australian lifestyle. Through the tasting, students are introduced to some of Australia’s 65 wine regions and local expressions of classic grape varietals like Shiraz, Chardonnay and Riesling.

'What we’ve also found is that this introduction to Australian wine then encourages many students to visit local wine regions, particularly those close to Adelaide but often right across the country. They want to continue their wine journey and experience the places, the people and the stories of Australian wine.'

Education is a core pillar of Wine Australia’s global market development strategy. Through events like the International Students Tasting, Wine Australia aims to reach new consumers who will potentially develop an appreciation and love for Australian wine that will see them share their knowledge and experience when they return to their home markets.